On April 14th, 2023, nonagenarian retired teacher, educationist and community leader, Peter Bola Onirinwa passed on to the great beyond, a natural place in the afterlife. Aged 90, his remains were committed to mother earth, exactly a year ago.
As his family, friends, mentees and admirers from all walks of life gathered in his hometown, Egbe Community in Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State on Saturday and Sunday April 13th and 14th to celebrate his life and times while holding a Thanksgiving Service to God for an exceptional life spent, respectively, Bola Onirinwa’s shadow looms over his hometown, Egbe and beyond. His memory is bound to linger on in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he had touched, like a Colossus. On Saturday, all roads led to The Royal Event Place, Egbe-Odo-Ere Federal Road. Notable on attendance were Bashorun of Shahaland, Lagos, Chief Kunle Oniya, former Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Mr Babatunde Irukera, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, Development Economist, International Trade and Policy Management Expert, Ambassador Olusiji Aina, MD/CEO Virgogem Integrated Limited, Toyeeb Awe, oil and gas magnate, Adefaramade Oniya, members of Kogi State House of Assembly, Council helsmen, and the influential Legends Club of Okunland, women and youth groups, among others. The events were capped at the Thanksgiving Service held at 6th ECWA Church, Egbe, on Sunday.
Bola Onirinwa was an embodiment of liberal education-education for all and for growth. He was an avid reader (and well lettered), who had quite a library. He was an excellent singer, sportsman and an encyclopedia of historical information; avatar and visionary; one who saw things coming, and lived to see his predictions of the consequences of human actions, come to past.
Young Onirinwa grew up exuding from an early age, brilliance, exceptional leadership acumen and love for community. At his tender age, a lot of changes were happening in the world, and the European colonies in Africa were affected.
Communities that had foresight sought to step up and provide for themselves the things that helped them inch continually towards modernisation, an example being having postal systems. It was during this period that Bola Onirinwa with the assent of his father volunteered to deliver mails in the entire Egbe township using his dad’s bicycle, every day after school and during weekends. For years, this primary school boy would be the mail boy for Egbe (he was never paid a dime); and this is just one example out of many.
Who Was Bola Onirinwa?
Chief Peter Bola Onirinwa was born into the family of late Pa Luke Onirinwa and his wife Marion Onirinwa on 29th January 1933. His parents were among the earliest Christian converts in Yagba, loving yet strict disciplinarians. He attended ECWA Primary School, Odo-Egbe. He also actively participated in the building of the old 2nd ECWA Church, Egbe, which his father built for free (seems it runs in the family). This act of selflessness would be a defining feature for all his life. Bola Onirinwa went on to Igbaja Teachers College, where he distinguished himself both academically and in sports, winning several trophies in tracks and field at the provincial and regional levels back in the days. In fact, he dominated the tracks so much he was made the games prefect while still just in Form 2, and he never came second in a race. Upon graduating from the Teachers College, Bola Onirinwa for a while worked with the defunct Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), teaching at a number of schools, including Oke-Ere (one of the places ever dear to his heart), where he was headmaster. After some time, the scholar in him wanted more, as did the patriot in him. So, he applied for officer training in the army and in 1962, was admitted on the A list into the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England. A path he would jettison so that he could continue to help SIM plant new schools and grow them, as they pleaded that they still needed him. This love for his community and selflessness would define the rest of his life, as it would see him opt for other civilian options for higher education. He went on to study English Language and became an educator. He would go on to plant and set rolling a number of new schools, serving as pioneer principal, and also taught at already existing schools, some of which are the famous Titcombe College, Egbe, United Commercial Secondary School (Gbaraga), Odo-Ere, Oke-Ode, Koro, Cruise Memorialt Secondary School, etc. Post-retirement, he was still called to plant shools and get them running.
In 1982, he retired from the teaching service after over three decades of excellent, hearty and dedicated service. Baba Onirinwa loved what he did. Once, a former student who showered encomiums on him for not just being an amazing tutor but a shining example of integrity, charisma and elegance added that, “That man could teach a fool to pass literature.” He went on to tell of how Pa Onirinwa paid the WASSCE fees of many of them who were indigent.
As the first son in the entire Onirinwa family to receive formal education, he had to ensure that he worked hard to help train others in the family. He embraced this responsibility with so much grace and dedication.
He was an honest man with a keen sense of justice. He abhorred oppression and miscarriage of justice. He loved and feared the Lord and he instilled excellent values in his children. He was a father and a friend, ever approachable, and no topic was off limits.
After retirement, his love for his people and community propelled him to venture into politics, an arena where he distinguished himself as a selfless team player whose focus was ever on the collective good. He showed maturity and stoic calmness where greed, avarice and betrayal were rife and chivalry and honour seemed to have been lost. He possessed an uncommon blend of insight and foresight that made him stand out among his peers. He held some portfolios including Supervisor for Education, Supervisor for Agriculture, and Director of Political Affairs in 1993. In all of these, he would be quick to tell you that his greatest achievement was being a servant of his people. Those who knew him would speak of his noble character, they would speak of his love and big heart, of his good sense of humour, they would speak of his resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
In 1986, he was made a High Chief, a most senior Kingmaker on the Ikota (Council of Kingmakers), a position he held well, and was more focused on his duties and obligations than the perks. His mantra was to leave the world a better place than we met it.
“Baba Rere” (his moniker, meaning, the Good Father) was a devout Christian. He, until his last breath, loved his Creator, loved his family, and loved his community with every fibre of his being. The growth of ECWA Church evangelicalism worldwide had his imprimatur, where he served diligently all his life, including as a delegate to the ECWA Conferences and as Choirmaster. He was committed to other local churches, supporting the work of God in various ramifications. He had a usual practice of donating Holy Bibles every year and at the time of his death, he had donated over 300 copies of the Holy Bible to individuals and churches. He provided grounds and logistics for crusades and church gatherings.
Mr Babajide Kayode Ikubolaje, a pharmacist and politician, who admitted to being one of the numerous mentees of the late icon, described Pa Onirinwa as “very honest, highly intelligent and very straightforward in his dealing with fellow people”.
He added that “Pa Onirinwa would not promise or say what he cannot do. He was clairvoyant and visionary; his predictions (and warnings) on account of cause and effect especially in matters affecting Egbe Community and Nigeria, all came to past. He was an encyclopedia of Egbe history, especially with regards to Egbe Obaship history. His knowledge of Egbe Obaship is second to none. He was the only man to live as witness to the ascendancy of six Obas of Egbe to the throne, namely; Oba Agbana Eleworamo, Oba Aina Owojaiye, Oba JB Denki, Oba Aderemi Adegboyega Olokundu, Oba Kayode Owa and the current Elegbe of Egbe, Oba Ayodele Irukera. His knowledge of Egbe obaship history was constantly instrumental to the resolution of disputes surrounding the ascendancy to the Elegbe stool. As a highest ranked member of the Ikota , Council of Kingmakers, he had his imprimatur on the appointments of three Obas of Egbe. He’s an educationist per excellence, and politician. The difference is that his involvement in politics was solely service to the people. As an educationist, being a lover of youths and a philanthropist, he did not only teach, he dedicated substantial part of his life earnings to training and payment of school fees of indigent students from less privileged homes”.
Second daughter, Mrs Loveth Oluranti Oluloto (nee Onirinwa) in her tribute copied The Guardian, stated: “I called him Baba, most people in his community called him Babarere or Chief or Oloye, his numerous past students called him Tisha or Oga. He is Chief Peter Bolarinwa Onirinwa. An icon, a legend. He was a father not only to his biological children, a talented born educator, an exceptional orator, a selfless community leader, an enduring politician, a giver to a fault, a man of the people, a jovial man, a man full of an unusual wisdom, with a supersonic memory, a principled man, a deep thinker, always wanted to stand out and do his things differently from the crowd. He was also a very classy, neat, fashionable man with an ever-young mind. There are so many amazing potentials of this man’s life but his selflessness and generous commitment to people and his community stood out the most. He turned down four different university admissions to the USA just to be able to stay in his community and environs to teach at various schools, both public and private, which he planted or headed. He also sponsored so many students with his meagre salary. He contributed so much to numerous churches in his community. I remember him spending hours and hours at the Ajewo Hall settling disputes, making decisions for the development of his community for no dime.
Even though he did amazingly, I’m still of the opinion that he was a half-harvested talent of his generation!”.
Oluranti, the Niamey, Niger Republic based missionary, led in the decadeslong Leprosy Mission International by husband, Pat Ben Bunmi Oluloto who is Country Director of the Mission for Niger and Chad, recalled how her late father got married to his first wife and sweetheart (her mother), Mrs. Janet Oladoye Onirinwa (in August 1965 at Kano,) who later passed away on August 1971, shortly after her (Oluranti’s) birth.
“He (Onirinwa) told stories of their love for each other to the extent that they combined both of their first names to name their first daughter (her older sister) Oyebola”, She recalled, tearfully.
Youngest son, Omoluabi Folami Onirinwa, Consultant, National Programme of Action for Strenthening of Patients’ Bill of Rights, who is also the CEO, Ace Group Nigeria, explored their father’s deep dedication to Egbe Community. The number of times he opted to serve the community even when he had the opportunities to move abroad, such as when he got admission to attend Sandurst Royal Military Academy or Methodist Central College, Missouri, USA, solely in the interest of Egbe Community. His work with various committees including the Igbimo Itesiwaju, PCRC, Egbe Airstrip rehabilitation, ECWA, Conflict resolutions as an arbitrator/mediator in Ajewo Palace, his closeness to the successive Kings, his personal work in the educational space as WAEC Examiner and Chairman Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) for the whole of Kogi State, among others.
Until his death, Bola Onirinwa was married to Hon. Chief Mrs F.F. Onirinwa (Nee Yeye), one time Vice Chairman of Yagba West Local Council; an industrious, God-fearing, beautiful and loving woman. They got married on 23rd December 1971. Chief P.B. Onirinwa is survived by his loving wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons/daughters in law.
In their farewell message to the patriarch, the children chorused: “So, when we look at his final resting place, we would say, ‘Here lies the body of Mobolarin Onirinwa, father, husband, grandfather, teacher, chief, leader, politician, and friend. Thank you for coming, Chief. Thank you for having graced this realm with your presence. Thank you for the privilege of the time spent with you. Thank you for the impact you had on our lives and the lives of others. Thank you for leaving us a good name. You were the best. Sun re, Baba Rere‘ “.